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We love a good list, especially a good music list. We also love concerts, classic albums, legendary bands and anything that can spark a good debate. You'll find our latest and most timely music features listed below, along with a few of our favorites. Check back here for regular updates, and visit our Music Features Archive for a more comprehensive list. You also can follow our music coverage and get updates on Twitter @bullzeyedotcom.
Our latest entertainment content can be found in the entertainment category in our new magazine format. Find more music content archives by checking out the Music thread on our blog.
November 14, 2011
Jeff Morgan breaks down the various music services available for streaming your tunes on the web.
October 18, 2011
The Jack's Mannequin frontman offers up the 10 songs that are currently rocking his world (and his iTunes playlist).
September 30, 2010
Guys may not be allowed to show their true feelings, but at least we had albums like Joe Jackson's Laughter & Lust and the "Garden State" soundtrack to lean on in tough times.
September 14, 2010
Directors like David Fincher, Michael Bay and Spike Jonze got their start by telling rock stars to act like rock stars. Check out our list of music video directors who jumped to the big screen.
July 22, 2009
They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. These 15 musicians disagree.
March 27, 2009
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has its prejudices when it comes to selecting those worthy enough for induction. Here are 10 artists who have gotten the shaft.
October 6, 2008
You never forget your first concert, particularly if you had Kiss or Green Day pop your cherry.
December 18, 2009
Our music staff provides a 21st Century Breakdown, singling out the best and worst albums, artists, songs and more from the 2000's.
February 9, 2009
Hey, stalkers need a soundtrack too! Check out our list of stalker anthems, love songs for the spineless and murder ballads.
January 19, 2009
Okay, so it may be harsh to say your favorite band sucks, but there are all sorts of popular artists that some of our music writers just don't get. Elvis Costello and Nine Inch Nails, we're looking at you...
March 3, 2008
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture, but you may be surprised by just how many great books there are for the literate music fan.
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(Editor's Note) This story first appeared in the Early Season 2012 issue of Gotham Baseball magazine. – MH
"I'm aware of the fine nucleus the Mets have. They just missed winning the pennant last season. And I feel I can do my part to help them win a championship." – Gary Carter, speaking to reporters after the December 1984 trade that sent him from the Montreal Expos to the York Mets.
"As easy as the trade for (Keith) Hernandez was, the trade for Gary Carter was much, much, much, much more difficult," Cashen told Newsday's Steve Marcus. "It took about 10 telephone calls and a couple of face-to-face meetings and was done over a period of a couple of months before I could finalize the deal. He [Expos GM John McHale] didn't want to do it. I thought the possibility of getting him was slim and none. We needed a hitter and a catcher and he fit the bill completely. I hung in there for a long time, much longer than you do for an ordinary kind of trade."
It was an extraordinary trade for an extraordinary player who would prove to be crucial to the team's 1986 World Series championship. He was the perfect guy at the perfect time. A "Captain America" type personality, a Gold Glove defensive catcher, and an MVP-caliber power hitter all rolled into one.
It's hard to remember a more exciting time to be a Mets fan. Following two consecutive Rookie of the Year campaigns by Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, and an unlooked-for 90-win season by Davey Johnson's 1984 club, the Flushing Faithful was thinking World Series for the first time in a long time.
And true to form, the Kid delivered the goods immediately
Carter's Opening Day game-winning home run off of St. Louis reliever Neil Allen, a former Mets All-Star who had been traded for Hernandez two years earlier, raised the stakes at Shea Stadium to epic proportions. The drama of the blast (we didn't call them walk-offs just yet), was matched by the upraised fist and the first of many passionate curtain calls "Kid" would be asked to grant for the rest of his tenure as a Met.
And no one did a curtain call quite like Gary Carter. Pointing to the right side of the Shea Stadium crowd, then to the left, punctuated by a "YES!" fist pump, it made the fans love him even more. It also drove opponents nuts. Mike Lupica, the award-winning sportswriter from the NY Daily News didn't really understand the hate back in 1986, especially for Carter,
"Gary Carter? Sure. Carter is a ham. He always has been. It`s his nature, he can`t help himself. Home runs send him into this high-five frenzy. This is news? This is bush? Carter waited a whole career to get a stage like Shea. He`s supposed to be Ted Williams all of a sudden?"
His best year for the Mets would be that 1985 season, but while the Mets would win 98 games, they would lose a tightly-contested NL East race to the Cardinals. Carter would be an All-Star from '85-88, but injuries and the team's dependency on both his cleanup bat and handling of the pitching staff would wear on his body. It was the last days of baseball before PEDs, and only through sheer will was Carter able to battle through. He was already 31 when he donned the blue and orange, so a long stint in New York was never in the offing. His knees had already been surgically repaired twice before coming to Gotham and would be worked on three more times before he left. But it always was the quality of his Mets career that is remembered, not the quantity.
Carter would touch a lot of lives during his career, including my own.
In the summer of 1986, it became apparent that my sister Nicole would need a kidney transplant. My dad – a huge Cary Carter fan dating back to his Expos days — was the donor, and when the Mets were taking on the Astros in the NLCS, we spent most of that postseason watching the games on hospital TVs.
After the World Series, in which Carter did more than his share, my father wrote a letter to Gary telling him about our family. Not long after, both my dad and my sister received autographed pictures of Carter with personal messages attached, as well as an invitation for my dad, mom, and sister to meet Gary at Shea Stadium. They did so during the 1987 season, and my family could not have been more touched by the personal way the All-Star catcher spoke with my sister. We had loved Jerry Grote and John Stearns in our house, and that guy Piazza surely was appreciated, but the Kid was the king.
He was reduced to a shadow of his former self in the 1989 season, hitting just .183 in 50 games for the Mets. He would spend his last three seasons as a decent backup catcher for the Giants (1990) and Dodgers (1991) before ending back up with the Expos in 1993, where he finally said goodbye to his playing career.
Carter had never won a World Series for the Expos, but the organization – despite whatever previous animosity had existed – not only retired Carter's number but threw him a big party to do so.
I caught up with Gary in 2001, when I was covering the first-ever season of the Brooklyn Cyclones. At that time, Carter had spent the last few seasons with the Mets as a roving catching instructor and was in Brooklyn that week working with the Cyclones catchers.
After interviewing him for a piece I was preparing about Brett Kay, the young Brooklyn catcher, he and I had a few minutes to chat. In what turned into an almost 45-minute conversation, I explained who I was, and thanked him for his kindness to my family. Instead of saying "Oh I remember" or some other phony platitude, he simply asked how my dad and sister (she had just received a second transplant, this time from my brother), were doing. When I told him that my dad was great and my sister was doing even better, he grabbed me by the shoulders.
"That is amazing," Carter said. "God bless your family, and God bless your sister."
Later that year, Gary would be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. However, he was still waiting for his well-deserved induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame when it was announced in the winter of 2002 that he was 129 votes shy of getting into Cooperstown.
It would mark his fifth straight year of eligibility, and with the declining health f his then-84-year-old father Jim, Carter was – rightfully so – starting to get a little exasperated, especially for his wife – who had planned a huge surprise party for what most people predicted would be the year he would be inducted.
Yes, he deserved the honor, but it was far more important to Gary for his father to see it happen.
Jim Carter lost his wife to leukemia when Gary was just 12 years old, a devastating loss for both of them. Gary would raise millions of dollars during and after his baseball career to fight the disease as a tribute to his mom, and his burning desire to have his dad at his induction ceremony was foremost in his mind.
To be waiting this long, many surmised (including this writer, who wrote a column wondering that same thing for the Associated Press that year), that his wait seemed unfair. Just imagine what it must have felt for Carter, who was watching his then-84-year-old father's declining health before his eyes while trying to be democratic about the lack of support from West Coast writers who failed to vote for Carter time and time again.
The same people who voted in Carlton Fisk into the HOF, first ballot no less, didn't see fit to put Carter in the same class.
Consider this, Carter batted .262 with 324 homers and 1,225 RBIs, while Fisk batted .269 with 376 and 1,330 in 203 more games. Carter was an 11-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves and one World Series ring while Fisk was a 10-time All-Star, and won one Gold Glove and no rings.
For those who use sabermetrics, using Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Baseball-Reference.com has him fourth with 66.3, firmly between Fisk and Yogi Berra. Incidentally, Berra wasn't a first-ballot inductee either, despite owning the most World Series records at the time and three American League MVPs. He did get in his second year of eligibility, 1972.
A year later, Carter did get in, but while his father would live to hear the news, he didn't last long enough to see Carter inducted. It was a crushing blow to Carter. But as he had always done before, he grinned, dealt with it, and moved on with his life. He was ready, he felt, to do something special.
In 2004, Carter angered some folks when he honestly answered some questions about Art Howe's job status as Mets manager, saying he would be interested in the job if it was offered. The person who asked the question knew Art Howe was still the Mets manager, though it was pretty clear that he was a goner. So, when Carter, in his always honest fashion, said what was on his mind, he was vilified.
Lying, it would seem, is the preferred stance in these matters. That fact remained that Howe was a dead man walking and everyone in New York knew it. It was time for a radical shift in philosophy.
In 2004, the entire baseball operations department enabled and divided by ownership – was an absolute mess. Fred Wilpon, now the principal owner, was never comfortable with the hiring of Jim Duquette as the GM. Duquette, one of the best-liked people in baseball, wasn't a "star" in the elder Wilpon's eyes. The son, Jeff Wilpon, had always championed Duquette as the person who had the combination of great baseball relationships and a healthy respect for statistical analysis (it was Duquette that pushed for the Mets to hire Rick Peterson and make him the highest-paid pitching coach in baseball).
Fred had tried to get Omar Minaya, once a trusted assistant to the now-deposed Steve Phillips, to share the GM duties with Duquette in 2004, an arrangement that both rejected. So instead, to "help" his "untested" GM, Fred Wilpon went to his old pal and scouting legend Al Goldis to serve as a "superscout" and assistant GM. The public meltdown of Duquette's choice as assistant GM, Bill Singer (Singer was fired after making ethnic slurs and mimicking Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng at a baseball function in the off-season), was bad enough, but his replacement, another legend, Bill Livesey (the man who helped build the Yankees farm system under Gene Michael), was the man who drafted Victor Zambrano for the Tampa Bay Rays.
If you're a Mets fan, you know that the June 30th deadline deal that sent Scott Kazmir to the Rays for Zambrano is still known as "Black Friday". It would prove the biggest backlash of criticism of the Mets in years, and it had gotten considerably worse since Wilpon had taken over sole ownership of the club in 2002. It would be the third straight season of below .500 baseball, despite the NL's highest payroll.
It was already a dysfunctional organization — chaos reigned supreme — and it was ownership's fault. Accountability was (and still isn't) a Wilpon strong point, but everyone knew – especially COO Jeff Wilpon – that hiring Art Howe in the first place was an awful mistake. He was aloof from his players, ill-equipped to handle the New York media, and lacked the kind of personality that would have allowed for fans to support him despite his lack of tactical skills.
For my part, I liked Howe, as he was always a gentleman. But he was a bad fit from day one.
Carter as Mets manager made sense to a lot of people, even after his "insult" to Howe, including former Mets pitcher, minor league coach, and now a former broadcaster, Bob Ojeda.
From the Daily News:
"(Ojeda) was aware that Carter was quoted last week as saying he'd like to manage the Mets, a faux pas that likely will hurt his cause … (but) he believes that Carter would be an ideal fit, even though he has no managerial experience.
"I don't believe it takes a tremendous amount of experience when you played the game at that level for 20 years, especially as a catcher," Ojeda said. "I really think Gary could pull it off. And he has the stature the Mets need right now. I've seen him get ticked off and step up and tell people what he thinks, They need leadership over there because right now the team on the field is a reflection of the front office – there's no strong or clear leadership."
There were those in the Mets front office that agreed and told Gary to "sit tight, and we'll get something done soon."
Unfortunately for Carter, the sudden hiring (and demotion of Duquette) of Minaya was the worst thing that could happen to his major-league managerial aspirations. For one, like his old boss Phillips, Minaya wasn't keen on the 1986 Mets. For another, Minaya's new assistant GM Tony Bernazard, wasn't keen on the personnel he couldn't control. It didn't take long for Bernazard to alienate much of the organization after his hire, but as he was the right-hand to the apple of Fred Wilpon's eye — and soon a liaison for Jeff Wilpon — he was going to get most of the incumbent front office exiled anyway.
Even after Minaya's hiring, many in the organization felt that Carter was going to be a coach on the new manager's staff. When that changed, so did his immediate future. Despite spending years as a roving instructor in the minors, and despite being in the Hall of Fame, the Met with a World Series ring earned as a Met wasn't offered a Mets major league job.
Instead, he was offered a job Minaya thought he would refuse; managing the Low-A Gulf Coast League Mets. He would win Manager of the Year in 2005, taking the GCL Mets to the championship round. The next year, he would win MOY honors again, this time in the full-season A Florida State League, winning the FSL championship with the St. Lucie Mets. Former Mets left-handed pitcher Jon Niese pitched for him on both of those clubs.
"The one thing Gary stressed to us was team," Niese told Newsday. "He said individual goals were meaningless. He said the name on the front of the uniform was more important than the name on the back. That's what I'll take from my two years with him."
Carter knew that with the Mets having won the NL East in 2006, he wasn't going to be the Mets' manager in 2007. But he also knew that there was something rotten in the state of Denmark. It was no secret that Jeff Wilpon was furious about the heavily-favored Mets' loss to St. Louis in the NLCS, and blamed Willie Randolph for the loss. To be fair, while the Mets' offense and bullpen struggled in the seven-game defeat, Randolph made some very strange managerial decisions with both his bullpen and in-game machinations that played a role in the team's demise. Add in the fact that Randolph and Bernazard despised each other, and an organization that was in complete upheaval, and Carter wanted to know where he fit in.
Carter was told by Bernazard that the organization wanted him to manage the 2007 season in Binghamton. It was a promotion they said, and another step closer to the major leagues.
Carter, whose knees had now been through five different procedures, had enough of the minor leagues. He knew all about the empty promises that had been made to Ken Oberkfell, who had managed several years in the minors for the Mets as well. Oberkfell, a former infielder who had won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 1982 had been a successful minor league manager at several different levels and, like Carter had won his share of accolades, including a Manager of the Year award, but "Obie" never even got an interview when Minaya decided to hire Randolph.
So, when the Mets wouldn't make any promises that Carter would be the guy to replace Randolph (and it was when not if) when the time came, he declined the offer. When he said he'd be happy to return to St. Lucie, they informed him that Frank Cacciatore had been already given the job.
From The New York Times:
"How do you not take a promotion if you want to manage in the major leagues?" Minaya said. "We gave him an opportunity and we offered him more money and a more high-profile job and he turned it down. What more could we do?"
Carter said that Tony Bernazard, a team vice president, told him there were two reasons the club wanted Carter to go to Binghamton: to follow the players he had coached in Class A and to learn how to use the double switch, a move usually made when relievers enter a game.
"I said, 'Tony, I played 18 years in the major leagues and you're going to tell me I have to go to Double-A to learn how to do the double switch?' " Carter said. "I can do that in my sleep."
Jeff Wilpon will understand, thought Carter, so he contacted the Mets' COO who had followed around Carter as a teenager. The younger Wilpon suggested Gary look for work elsewhere.
So much for loyalty.
So Carter tried to get hired by both the Dodgers and Rockies, but both jobs were given to someone else. Then the 2007 Mets blew a 7 ½ game lead in September and missed the playoffs. If the Mets didn't get off to a great start in 2008, then Randolph would be gone. So Carter took the manager's job for the Orange County Flyers in the California-based Golden League. He proceeded to win the 2008 championship and then steered the Long Island Ducks to the Atlantic League playoffs the following season.
The Mets were playing uninspired .500 baseball in May of 2008 and Randolph would soon be a goner. Carter took one last shot and called old friend Jay Horwitz to see if he had any shot at getting the job. Then Carter made a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life, he told the whole truth and nothing but the truth during an interview with "The Mike & Murray Show" on Sirius Satellite Radio.
He admitted the call to Horwitz and said the Mets could use a person with his experience.
He never worked in affiliated baseball again, for telling the damn truth.
"I learned that things can be taken out of context," Carter told reporters when he was hired by the Long Island Ducks. "There was no intention whatsoever to undermine anybody. I was simply asked the question, 'would you be interested?' Of course, I would be interested in any capacity because that is where my passion is. If it's not with the Mets, I would like it to be with maybe somebody else."
Hall of Famer Gary Carter was exiled to the independent leagues by a .260 career hitter in Bernazard — who had never served as a scout, instructor, coach, or manager at any level in the minor or major leagues — and Gary believed he had no other recourse than to "campaign" for the job. It wasn't like Gary had any real shot at the job this time, so to make a big deal about it seemed petty.
Yet everyone did, including his former teammate and co-captain Keith Hernandez.
"I've always been accommodating and it's hurt me because I've worn my heart on my sleeve," Carter told the Times during a contentious interview following the hiring of Jerry Manuel. "They throw me under the bus and two weeks later, (Willie's) fired anyway. Yeah, so I'm the one to blame."
In 2009, Gary Carter would find peace in baseball and combined it with his greatest passion; his family. Palm Beach Atlantic University needed a baseball coach, and with Kimmee Carter serving as the team's softball coach, it was an easy "yes' for the Kid.
Ray McNulty, writing for TCPalm.com, couldn't understand, like many of us, why Carter was taking a job at a Division 2 college.
So this is what it has come to for Gary Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher who managed successfully in the minor leagues but can't seem to get back to the majors — not as a manager, not even as a coach.
This, apparently, is the best he can do.
And that's as sad as it is ridiculous.
"Not even many D-I schools in this nation have a Hall of Fame baseball coach," said Lu Hardin, president of PBAU, where the baseball team compiled a 24-67 record the past two seasons.
No D-II school should.
But Carter lives in nearby Palm Beach Gardens. His daughter, Kimmy Bloemers, is the school's softball coach. And, at age 55, after 19 major league seasons as a player and six years as a minor league manager, this was another chance to stay in baseball.
Maybe his best chance.
And that's as sad as it is ridiculous.
Perhaps the worst part about the loss of Gary Carter was the Wilpon / Katz ownership not giving Cary Carter one last chance to say goodbye to the fans that loved him. One last chance to thank the man who helped them win their last championship. One last curtain call for the best of the 1986 Mets, the best damn team this franchise has ever had.
They chose not to. They chose to posthumously honor him. With a patch and a big sticker on the outfield wall.
Gary Carter deserved better.

subset: commoncrawl


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New Samsung MP3 players topped by touchscreen
Stunning touchscreen and new speaker media players unveiled
Samsung has taken the wraps off its new range of portable audio and video players - including the touchscreen YP-P2 and slide out speaker-equipped YP-S5.
Samsung's three new music and video players all have Bluetooth and come in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB versions. The touchscreen YP-P2, reported here earlier this week, is the headline-grabbing model. It has a large 3-inch touchscreen LCD, using finger tip control to navigate menu options.
The YP-P2 supports MP3 and WMA tracks and comes with an FM radio built in. It's video player can play back at 30 frames per second in widescreen mode. Photo images can also be viewed on the device. With Bluetooth 2.0 implemented, audio can be streamed to wireless headphones or Bluetooth speaker system.
The YP-P2 boasts a battery life of up to 35 hours with music playback and 5 hours with movies. It measures 100(h) x 52(w) x 9.9(d) and weighs 85g. It will be available in black, white or wine red.
Slide-out speaker
The Samsung YP-S5 is Samsung's latest digital media player with integrated slide out speaker. The successor to the YP-K5, it adds video playback, has a bigger display and is thinner than the K5. All the regular music player functionality is there, with MP3 and WMA support, plus there's an FM radio and voice recorder included.
The 1.8inch colour screen plays back video at 15fps, and photo images can be viewed. Bluetooth 1.2 on the device allows files to be streamed to the device but not wireless stereo playback. Measuring 96(h) x 46.5(w) x 14.95(d) mm, the YP-S5 weighs 85g and provides up to 24 hours music playback (5 hours using its 1.5W speakers) or 5.5 hours video playback. It will be sold in white and black versions.
Samsung has also announced the successor to the YP-T9B, the YP-T10. The YP-T10 comes with a 2-inch colour display and supports music and video playback at 30fps. It has Bluetooth 2.0 for stereo streaming of tunes, and comes with a built in FM radio and voice recorder. Photos can be viewed too.
The YP-T1 will be available in a whole range of colours - black, white, purple, red and yellow. Its dimensions are 96(h) x 41.5(w) x 7.9(d)mm and it weighs 43g. Battery life is 30 hours music or 4 hours video playback.
All models are lined up to be released by Samsung in October, with prices still to be confirmed.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Some images may be disturbing to some readers.
SURREY — An elderly man might not be alive today if it wasn't for a local woman's act of kindness.
Mariam Roya has been sharing the senior's story online, after rushing 80-year-old "Sid" to hospital when she found him lying in the middle of the street, bloody and freezing earlier this month.
It has gone viral, with more than 11,000 shares on her first post alone.
"He was frazzled and trying to get up but he couldn't," Roya wrote in a Facebook post, noting she found Sid when she was running errands leaving the Superstore near King George and 72nd Avenue.
Roya said she was horrified no one stopped to help him.
She later found out he had fallen down and was unable to get up.
"People were just driving around and past him like he didn't exist," Roya wrote. "It broke my heart I put my emergency lights on and honked my car to make my way to him and ran out to help him up. Not sure if he was homeless but his hands were freezing so he must have been outside for at least 24 hours."
(A photo of Sid's injuries after Roya found him lying on a Surrey street. Photo: Mariam Roya)
Roya said she brought him to her car, and realized he had a huge gash on his head and was bleeding all over his face.
"I blasted my heater and told him I'm calling an ambulance, but he refused saying the sirens scare him so I asked him if it's ok that I drive him to Surrey Memorial and he said ok.
"I drove as fast as I could to get him there and he was shaking saying he's scared," she added.
Roya said she urged for him to treated at the emergency room immediately.
"He grabbed my hand and kissed my hands and I patted his back saying, 'You're going to be ok."
While she expressed anger in her early posts about Sid's treatment in hospital, she now seems happy with how he's being cared for.
"I'm not posting this story for recognition at all," she wrote, "rather want to open everyone's eyes up of how cruel and cold-hearted this world is. What would happen if I hadn't found him or what if I just left him in emergency without following up. Just heartbroken. One of the biggest reasons I'm choosing to be in medical care is to change the way health care workers treat patients. I may have little chance of changing it but little chance is better then no chance and I encourage every single medical care professional to stand by me as this should be our number one target and goal."
Her latest update said Sid's doing well, and doctors are working to get him into a care home so he can have the long-term medical attention he requires.
In the video, she asked Sid how he was doing.
"Oh, I guess I'm a whole lot better than I was," the man replied.
Asked what he has to say to people who are praying for him, he said: "I appreciate the consideration very much. It's precious."
As for those who drove by him?
"I can understand why they don't want to get involved in human misery," he said. "People don't need it in their life, eh?"
Roya said she doesn't understand how so many people "simply flashed their signals and changed lanes to pass Sid hopelessly on the street in the rain" seeing as he was in a busy intersection.
"Thank you all for sharing this story and I hope next time someone is in need of help, we all will jump in and do our part," she wrote, "as this was the message I wanted to get out to the public. I'm not the hero in this - Sid is a true hero in my eyes and I hope no one will go through this again."
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GreenShade – Free SharePoint 2010 Theme
We are glad to release our first free SharePoint 2010 theme. GreenShade theme has 2 columns of fixed width and its main purpose is to help you get started with SharePoint branding.
You can use the theme for free and without any restrictions. However, it is forbidden to sell or redistribute the theme without TopSharePoint.com permission. You may modify the theme as you wish at your own risk.
Please link to this article if you would like to spread the word.
– Two-columns
– Fixed-width
– CSS based
– Two master pages and one page layout provided
– Slider powered by jQuery on homepage
– Top and left dynamic navigation
– Ideal for 1024×768 screen resolution
– Suitable for small SharePoint 2010 Publishing Sites
To enable the GreenShade theme for SharePoint 2010 follow these simple steps.
Download the GreenShade.zip file and extract the files.
There are three folders in the zip file:
MasterPages folder contains two mastrepages. Homepage master page greenshade-home.master and the general master page used across the site greenshade.master. Import these two master pages into "Master Page" site objects in SharePoint Designer.
PageLayout folder contains a custom page layout created for this theme. This page layout allows you to display the left navigation and other custom functions. Import this custom page layout into "Page Layouts" site objects in SharePoint Designer.
And finally, the third folder called greenshade contains a css folder, images folder and scripts folder.
Place the greenshade folder under your site root. Make sure Network and Network Service accounts have read permissions on this folder.
Once all the files are put into place it is time to set the greenshade.master as the default master page.
Go to your site homepage and click on Site Actions >> Site Settings.
Under "Look and Feel" click on "Master page" and under Site Master Page select greenshade.master and click OK.
Go back to the Site Settings and click on "Page layouts and site templates". Make sure you have the "(Article Page) Green Shade" on the right side pane for Page Layouts.
Go to your site and edit all the pages to inherit the custom page layout "Green Shade".
Now, we need to take care of the homepage.
On your SharePoint Designer, under Master Pages, right click on the greenshade-home.master and select "Set as Custom Master Page". This will make the greenshade-home.master as your default homepage layout.
Navigate to the homepage and you will notice the three small content boxes are missing. Edit the hompage, Site Action >> Edit Page. Click on the "Main Content" area and under the Ribbon click on HTML >> Edit HTML Source.
Open homepage-boxes.htm (included in the GreenShade.zip file) with Notepad and Copy&Paste the content in the HTML Source and click OK. Publish the page and you're done.
If you like the theme don't forget to leave a comment or maybe you would like to show your appreciation and buy me a beer!


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Mathematics (SMA)
The Discipline and the Major
Mathematics is a field that is vast and ancient. It encompasses the study of quantity, shapes, symmetries, patterns and change, among others. Mathematics is the language of science and engineering. Remarkably, the same mathematics used to solve problems in one area may be applicable in a seemingly unrelated field. Mathematicians look for generalities, use analogies and employ logic to verify conjectures.
The mathematics major has two tracks, one in pure and the other in applied mathematics designated, respectively, as Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. Both tracks offer honors versions for exceptional students. The Mathematics Department also administers a separate major in operations research and co-administers the major in math with quantitative economics described elsewhere.
Midshipmen in the pure mathematics track take seven required courses, four electives and a capstone project course. Those in the applied mathematics track take eight required courses, four electives and a capstone project course. The two tracks share a common third class year with required courses in fundamentals of mathematical reasoning, linear algebra, probability, and applied mathematics and modeling. Two additional required courses common to both tracks follow in second class year in the underpinnings of calculus (sequences, series and functions) and intermediate linear algebra. The remaining required course in the mathematics track is one in algebra which treats mathematical structures called groups, rings and fields. The remaining required courses in the applied mathematics track are an introduction to partial differential equations, and scientific computing.
By choosing the applied mathematics track, mathematics majors may create and analyze mathematical models of natural phenomena, often using a computer for simulations or computations. In the pure mathematics track, they may investigate and draw conclusions about more abstract problems which may even be unrelated to the physical world. The choice of track need not be made until the second semester of third class year. Students with both interests in both tracks may pick one track, but take electives from the other.
After graduation, mathematics majors are welcomed into all areas of the Navy and Marine Corps. Mathematics majors are valued in both the military and civilian worlds for their ability to reason carefully and logically. The mental training involved in learning mathematics is even more significant than any particular mathematical knowledge one acquires as an undergraduate major. As a result, midshipmen trained in mathematics may look forward to a wide range of careers inside and outside of the naval service. The first deck of Chauvenet Hall is full of small posters suggesting how advanced mathematics is useful in dozens of unexpected ways. Midshipmen majoring in mathematics will be exposed to new worlds of intrinsic interest and of great value to the Navy and Marine Corps.
Considerations for those who might be interested in this major
Good performance in prior mathematics courses is necessary for success in the mathematics major. Mathematics rewards—and demands—patience, very careful use of language, and comfort with abstraction. While the "right answer" is important in mathematics, it is even more important to know why the answer is right. Careful reasoning is a hallmark of the major. Many midshipmen who are good at mathematics but unsure about an area of specialization choose this major because it is flexible and central to so many fields. This allows them to pursue graduate study in many other areas.
It is not surprising that graduates of the Naval Academy who majored in mathematics have achieved success in mathematics, science, engineering, law, and medicine.


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Pasta Pesto Primavera
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Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
8 ounces thin spaghetti
3/4 cup thinly sliced cauliflower florets
3/4 cup yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/4-inch thick
3/4 cup thin strips red bell pepper
3/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup warm chicken or vegetable broth
2/3 cup (tightly packed) fresh basil
2/3 cup (tightly packed) fresh spinach
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated nonfat or regular Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pine nuts (optional)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. About 1 minute before the pasta is done, add the vegetables, and cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the pasta is al dente. Drain well, return the pasta and vegetables to the pot, and cover to keep warm.
While the pasta is cooking, place all of the pesto ingredients in a blender or food processor, and process until finely ground.
Add the pesto to the pasta and vegetables, and toss to mix well. Add the broth, and toss to mix well. Add a little more broth if the sauce seems too dry, and serve hot.


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- Becoming a Candidate
Becoming a Candidate
Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. These qualifications and requirements may vary slightly depending on whether the office sought is a local office, a general assembly seat, a statewide office, or a federal office. Generally, all candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Be qualified to vote for and hold the office sought.
- Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for 1 year immediately preceding the election.
Informational Documents
The board has developed and published candidate informational bulletins specific to each office type. In addition to the qualifications, forms and filing requirements, candidate information bulletins provide candidates with information he/she will need to run for office. You may download the information through the Department of Elections website or contact them to request that candidate informational bulletin and candidate forms be mailed to you for a $10 charge. Please send check in the amount of $10 made payable to the State Board of Elections to:
Department of Elections
Attn: Election Services Division
200 North Ninth Street, Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23219-3497
Include with your payment the office and, if applicable, the district, in which you are seeking election. Once the check is received, the packet will be sent to you through first class mail. Candidate packets for future elections can not be requested until after January 1 of the year in which the election is held.
Qualifications to Be a Candidate
A candidate must be:
- Qualified to vote and hold the office sought.
- A resident of the Commonwealth for one year immediately preceding the election.
- A resident, by the time of filing, of the county, city or town in which he offers for election.
- And, if he/she is seeking a district seat, a resident of the election district to be represented.
Documents Required to be Filed
A candidate must file certain documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. Each form is described below. An explanation of who is required to file each item also provided. Each document can be downloaded from the Department of Elections website.
Statement of Organization for a Candidate
This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. Any individual serving as campaign treasurer must be a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. A candidate may serve as his/her own treasurer.
Virginia law requires each candidate to provide the name and addresses of his campaign treasurer, the name of the financial institution in which he establishes his campaign account and, if one, the name of his campaign committee.
This document is required to be filed as soon as you receive or expend monies relating to your candidacy or file any form listed in Items B through E herein. For further details, see Starting A Campaign Committee in the Summary of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act published by the Department of Elections.
Certificate of Candidate Qualification
This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. All candidates are required to file this form.
Declaration of Candidacy
This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. It must be filed by primary election candidates and independent (non-party) candidates. If petitions also are required for the office sought, the Declaration must be filed at the same time as the petitions.
Candidates for political party nomination by a method other than a primary file this declaration and the petitions described below only if so required by the rules of the political party. Contact us to determine if they are required.
This document is prepared and distributed by the Department of Elections. Petitions containing at least the number of signatures required for the office sought must be filed together with the Declaration of Candidacy.
- Petition Circlecle Culator - Petitions may be circulated by either the candidate or another person who is, or who is eligible to be, registered and qualified to vote for the office and, if applicable, in the district for which the petition is circulated. For At Large seats, by any eligible resident of the county or city or town in which the candidate is seeking election; for a specific district or ward, by any eligible resident of the same district or ward as the candidate.
The person circulating the petition must affirm before a notary or other person authorized to administer oaths, that he/she personally witnessed the affixing of the signatures. Falsely taking this affidavit is a felony under Virginia Law. The circulator can NEVER leave the petition unattended, e.g. left on the counter at a grocery store, restaurant, etc. - Number of Signatures Required - Petitions must contain the signatures of at least 125 qualified voters of the district.
Exceptions:- If a board of supervisor or school board election district has 1,000 or fewer registered voters as of January 1, 2006, petitions must contain the signatures of at least 50 qualified voters of the district.
- If a town has more than 1,500 registered voters as of January 1, 2006, the following signature requirements apply:
- For At Large seats, signatures of at least 125 qualified voters of the town;
- For town district seats, signatures of at least 25 qualified voters of the town district seat.
- Exceptions: If a town has 1,500 or fewer registered voters as of January 1, 2006, no petition is required.
- Call your General Registrar to confirm which signature requirement applies to you.
The State Board recommends that a candidate get at least half again the number of signatures required to assure that enough are qualified voters.
Statement of Economic Interests
This document is prepared by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and should be available from the Clerk of the governing body, the Clerk of the school board or the Clerk of the City or Town Council. It is required to be filed by all candidates for any constitutional office. It is also required to be filed by candidates for board of supervisors, city council, school board and town council in counties, cities and towns having a population of 3,500.
Exception: Individuals who are officers or employees need not re-file this form as candidates if they meet the requirement for filing in January 2006.
Primary Filing Fee
As the name suggests, this fee is required to be filed only by primary election candidates. The amount required to be paid is 2% of the annual salary for the office sought in effect in the year in which the candidate files. Contact the finance officer of the county or city for details.
Note: Candidates who are nominated by a political party by a method other than a primary Election may be required to pay a filing fee. This fee is determined by the rules of the political party. Contact your county or city chair for details.
For Required Forms, Where to file and Filing Deadline please contact your General Registrar.
Notice of Deficiencies in Declaration or Petitions
An independent (non-party) candidate my request notification of any problems with his filing that can be corrected before the filing deadline. This request must be in writing as required by § 24.2-505 of the Code of Virginia.
This letter must be addressed to the Secretary of the Electoral Board of the candidate's county or city of residence. It must accompany the declaration of candidacy and, if required, the petitions filed with the General Registrar.
The written request does not guarantee timely response. Certain factors, may affect the electoral board's ability to comply with the request, that is, the number of filings, etc. It is suggested that documents be filed at least ten (10) working days before the filing deadline if this notice is requested.
Other Required Reports
All candidates must file pre-election and post-election Reports of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures. These reports are filed only with the Electoral Board of the candidate's county or city of residence and are due even if no contributions are received nor expenditures are made. In this case, only a Report of No Activity must be filed. Forms are prescribed by, and available from, the State Board of Elections.
Contact your General Registrar for dates reports are due.
No certificate of election can be issued to any successful candidate who fails to file the required reports.
- A candidate for local office who files an exemption form certifying that he has not and will not solicit or accept any contribution from any other person during the course of his/her Campaign and has not and will not contribute or expend more then $1,000 during the course of this campaign, is required to file reports of large pre-election contributions and a final report. A form for this purpose is prepared and distributed by the State Board of Elections.
- Candidates for town council offices in a town with a population of less then 25,000 are exempt from the provisions of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.
Physical Address
10459 Courthouse Drive
Suite 102
King George, VA 22485
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1359
King George, VA 22485
Phone: 540-775-9186Fax: 540-775-4852
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Whether you're looking to create a family game night with a gaming console or more traditional board games, Kmart has hundreds of classic games, video games, handheld games and plug and play TV games that will ensure your family will always be entertained. We offer tons of options you can play by yourself, with a friend or with a group. There are adult games, children's games and games for people of all interests, abilities and ages.
Our selection of classic games is available across multiple platforms, whether you have a modern gaming console or are looking for some old board game fun. Get back to basics with checkers or "Scrabble," and let your child's imagination run wild with floor blocks and Legos. Take a slippery slide with "Chutes and Ladders," or wander through a colorful dream world in "Candy Land." Strategy games such as "Monopoly" or "Risk" can be the perfect way to keep your family engaged.
Floor games such as "Twister" and "Press Your Luck" are fun for both kids and adults. Whether it's a kid's birthday or slumber party, the kids can twist and turn for hours on the "Twister" board game. Card games such as "UNO" and "Pictionary" are great for family game night. Split into two teams and act out clues using the "Pictionary" cards, or be the first player at the table to score 500 points in a game of "UNO." Add even more excitement to game night with fun trivia games. Get the kids together for a game of "Beat the Parents" to see who can answer the most questions correctly. You can even choose Hasbro's "Trivial Pursuit," which is a great game for adults, or you have the choice of Disney's "Trivial Pursuit" and other animal trivia games.
Perhaps you want to show your children what it was like to play an Atari game, or maybe you want to want to step back in time and get that feeling again yourself. Plug and play TV games, which connect to the TV without the use of any game console, are convenient if you don't have a more modern gaming system (or even if you do). They are a great way to experience older gaming consoles that are no longer manufactured. TV games are also convenient if you want to bring video games on a trip, but don't want to risk losing or damaging an expensive game console on your travels. Simply use an RCA jack to plug it directly into your TV.
We also offer a variety of handheld games, including individual devices with one theme of games on them as well as modern gaming consoles that allow you to choose from games to purchase and play on them. The Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, PlayStation Vita and Kurio 4 tablet are handheld consoles that are convenient for traveling, especially with the variety of games Kmart offers for those devices. We also offer classic handheld games, such as Radica USA Ltd. Lighted Solitaire. If you're looking to keep your small child entertained, consider our handheld learning games, which includes the LeapFrog My Own Leaptop.
Whether your kids like board games, puzzles, making their own creations out of Lego blocks or playing with action figures, Kmart has the selection and variety of kids' toys and games you need.


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TORONTO, March 24, 2014 /CNW/ - Top Gear Festival Barbados and the Barbados Tourism Authority announced today that Lewis Hamilton will appear on track behind the wheel of his MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One car during an adrenaline-fuelled motoring weekend on 17 & 18 May.
Fans can expect to hear the spine-tingling roar of the F1 W04's Mercedes-Benz Formula One engine as the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS car makes history with its Caribbean debut by appearing at the newly renovated Bushy Park Circuit.
Formula One aficionados and motoring enthusiasts alike will see Lewis in action, doing what he does best, as he tears around the track in this extraordinary car. This is their chance to witness Lewis drive in only his second season with Mercedes - having joined the Silver Arrows works team for the 2013 season - and achieving five pole positions in his F1 W04.
Petra Roach, Vice President of the Barbados Tourism Authority UK, commented: "Following the announcement of Lewis joining the already star-studded Top Gear Festival Barbados line up, we now bring you the exciting news that we are uniting Lewis Hamilton and his MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One car at Bushy Park Circuit!"
She continued: "By bringing the F1 W04 to Barbados, we're bringing the thrill of Formula One to the festival. Having been driven by Lewis and his team mate Nico Rosberg during last year's season, it achieved three race wins, nine podium appearances and eight pole positions. Riding on this wave of success, we're excited to bring the car to Barbados for an unmissable weekend of top racing action."
Petrol-heads are in for a for a thrilling weekend of high-octane motoring action as Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond take part in a non-stop schedule of motoring antics that will see The Stig and the Top Gear Live Stunt Driving Team take to the track in a series of thrilling stunts, races and challenges as well as legendary drivers from Global Rally Cross compete in the first round of their 2014 season.
Tickets to this thrilling motoring weekend are limited. Visitors are encouraged to book early so as not to miss the most exciting new event on Barbados' 2014 entertainment and motoring calendar. Bushy Park is a short drive from the island's capital Bridgetown and from the international airport.
Tickets are on sale and priced at BBD$75 (approx. £22) for a general admission ticket, BBD$200 (approx. £59) for a Club House ticket and BBD$500 (approx. £149) for a VIP Marquee ticket. Children's tickets are available, and start from BBD$50 (approx. £15) for a general admission ticket. For more information on ticket packages or to book visit www.topgearfestivalbarbados.com
About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. Rated as one of the world's sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados' Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travellers. Barbados is also the first Zagat-rated Caribbean island and is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Barbados has hosted several world class events including: The annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival; the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010, and the Rihanna LOUD concert in 2012. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via Jet Blue and American Airlines, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor's '2008 Travellers Choice Destination Awards' in its Top 100 Destinations category. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, via Twitter @Barbados.
Top Gear Live & Top Gear Festival
Offering a variation on more traditional motor shows Top Gear Live and Top Gear Festival brings the spirit of the TV programme to the live events arena allowing fans to immerse themselves in their passion for Top Gear and motoring in general. Starring Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig the event features an exhilarating mix of stunts, supercars and challenges. Top Gear Live has been running world tours since 2008 entertaining over 1.8 million visitors. Note: the format of the event and presenter line-up can vary in different countries. Top Gear Live is a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Brand Events Ltd.
Brand Events UK
Brand Events was formed in 1999 and is the UK's most successful innovator in events and exhibitions. Since then it has launched some of the UK's most popular consumer events including Top Gear Live and, most recently the CarFest North and South events hosted by BBC broadcaster Chris Evans which have raised more than £2m for BBC Children in Need.
BBC Worldwide Ltd.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to exploit the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Global Brands. In 2011/12, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £155 million on headline sales of £1085 million and returned £216 million to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website:
Image with caption: "Lewis Hamilton set to race in his MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team car at Top Gear Festival Barbados (CNW Group/Barbados Tourism Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140324_C6798_PHOTO_EN_38267.jpg
SOURCE: Barbados Tourism Authority
For further information:
[email protected] / +44 203 697 4200


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[Dominik's] daughter had an old toy piano that she loved, but when the batteries started to die down, it played awful tones and sounded generally out of tune. While this is likely something our circuit bending friends might be interested in, [Dominik] preferred when things sounded more cheery.
He considered simply replacing the batteries, but it seemed like a far better idea to do away with them altogether. he hunted around for a solution, and eventually found one at the local IKEA store. He grabbed a LJUSA hand-powered flashlight and disassembled it, saving the crank and circuitry.
He installed the crank on the back side of his daughter's piano, and mounted the electronic bits inside the toy's shell. The crank spins a brushless motor, generating an AC current which is rectified to DC before being stored in a capacitor. He says that a 30 second crank will play just a few tunes, which isn't ideal, though it is better than frequently replacing batteries.
[Thanks, Roger]


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This article is more than 1 year old
European Parliament calls for censorship code of conduct
Names Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft
The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to establish a code of conduct governing the online censorship of dissidents. It wants companies such as Google and Telecom Italia to pledge not to help governments censor their citizens.
The Parliament has adopted a text denouncing the governments of China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia for persecuting political opponents for views expressed online. It also name-checks Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft as companies that help those governments censor their citizens.
"[The] Chinese government has successfully persuaded companies such as Yahoo!, Google and Microsoft to facilitate the censorship of their services in the Chinese internet market," says the text.
Google said it believes that even the censored search engine provides some benefits. "Google respects the fact that people and organisations, including Amnesty, oppose our decision to launch a search service in China," said a Google spokeswoman in a statement.
"Google believes that Google.cn will provide significant benefits to Chinese internet users and that our engagement in China meaningfully expands access to information there.
"Google.cn already discloses to users when information has been removed from our search results in response to local laws and regulations. We believe this provides some additional transparency and is a step in the right direction."
The Parliament cannot directly control companies' behaviour. "There is not pressure we can bring to bear directly on companies, but we have passed this on to the commission and the Council of Ministers and want them to draw up a code of conduct," said a European Parliament spokesman.
The text is not a legally enforceable document, it is simply a register of the Parliament's support for freedom of expression on the internet, the spokesman said.
The document says the Parliament "strongly condemns restrictions on internet content, whether they apply to the dissemination or to the receipt of information, that are imposed by governments and are not in strict conformity with the guarantee of freedom of expression".
The Parliament said it "strongly condemns the harassment and imprisonment of journalists and others who are expressing their opinions on the internet [and] calls, in this respect, on the council and the commission to take all necessary measures vis-à-vis the authorities of the concerned countries for the immediate release of all detained internet users".
The Parliament also wants the commission to consider limiting aid to countries whose internet policies do not protect freedom of expression. The document said the Parliament "calls on the council and the commission when considering its assistance programmes to third countries to take into account the need for unrestricted internet access by their citizens".
The Parliament spokesman said the document could be considered alongside proposals that emerged at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis at the end of last year. He also said it could be adopted not just by the commission, but by the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union.
See: European Parliament resolution on freedom of expression on the internet
Copyright © 2006, OUT-LAW.com
OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.


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To me, having a pair of bluebirds nest in my backyard is a really big deal. It means that I provided the birds with a much-needed place for them to lay their eggs. It also guarantees that I will be regularly seeing one of our most colorful birds for weeks to come.
Let's take a quick glimpse at the compelling story of bluebird nesting. I am convinced that once you get a feel for what goes on in and around a nesting structure, you will better appreciate why bluebirds nesting in your yard is such a special event.
After a male eastern bluebird selects a nesting territory, he tries to attract a mate. If he is successful in convincing a female that he is Mr. Right, he escorts her to the nesting sites within his domain. She carefully inspects each one before choosing one she considers the best of the lot.
She then faces the task of constructing the nest. Some females actually begin building a nest within hours of making their choice. Others may wait a few days before they begin collecting materials. Some persnickety females will actually begin working on nests at several locations before finally focusing in on the box or natural cavity where they will lay their clutch of eggs.
Nest building may take as little as two days, but four to five days are the norm. Other females may stretch nest building out for as long as two weeks.
The nest is cup-shaped and truly a work of art. It is typically comprised of pine needles, grass, straw and twigs. Occasionally, it will also include feathers and hair. In my neck of the woods, bluebird nests are almost exclusively made of pine needles.
Bluebird nests usually contain four to five eggs. Clutch sizes range from three to seven. The number of eggs in a clutch is often related to the age of the bird laying them. First-time nesters often lay only four eggs. The clutches of females 2 or more years old typically number four or more. These eggs are usually light blue. However, 5-9 percent of bluebird eggs are white.
Strangely, some females will lay their eggs in the nests of other bluebirds. At any rate, once a female begins laying her eggs she will lay one a day until the clutch is completed. Each egg is usually laid before mid-morning.
Incubation doesn't begin until the last egg is laid. This insures that all of the eggs will hatch at approximately the same time.
The job of incubating the eggs falls to the female. The fact that male bluebirds are sometimes seen entering boxes has led some to believe that the male assists in this time-consuming chore. In truth, males that enter boxes during this time have been found to actually stand beside their mates as they continue incubation.
In some cases, the male will sit on the eggs for very brief periods of time while the female is temporarily away from her nest. This is thought to be done more to keep the eggs from chilling than actually incubating them. Once incubation commences, the eggs cannot survive being chilled for a prolonged period to time.
Incubation can take anywhere from 13 to 20 days. The length of the incubation is affected by how many times the male brings his mate food as well as the air temperature in the box. Low temperatures and less food extend incubation.
Once the eggs begin hatching, they will all hatch over a period of about a day. For some reason, the eggs usually hatch in the order in which they were laid.
The hatchlings emerge naked, blind, immobile and helpless. As a result, they totally depend on their parents to feed and protect them. Additionally, since they enter the world with no feathers, they cannot regulate their body temperature. In cold weather the female will brood her young to keep them warm. Although the male may join her in the nest, he doesn't assist in brooding.
Feeding the young is a monumental task and requires the undivided attention of both parents. In Georgia, where bluebirds nest two to three times a year, the young hatched earlier in the year will often assist in feeding their younger brothers and sisters.
Each hatchling is fed, on average, once every 20 minutes throughout the daylight hours. At first, the young are fed soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars. However, as they mature, hard-bodied insects are added to their diet.
Have you ever noticed that after a brood of young bluebirds have "flown the coop" you never find any droppings in the box? The reason for this is that the young birds' dropping are surrounded by a thin membrane known as a fecal sac. These are removed by the parents and dropped some distance from the nesting site. It is thought that this helps keeps odors down, which, in turn, reduces the chances that predators will find the young.
When hatchlings are 8 days old, their eyes begin to open. Pin feathers begin appearing within 10 days of hatching. Once the youngsters are 12-14 days old, they become very skittish and will bail out of a nest if disturbed. For this reason, nest-box checks should be curtailed when the young bluebirds reach this age. The young are ready to take their first flight when they are anywhere from 17-21 days old.
The young birds often have to be coaxed out of their secure home by their parents. If a young bird is too weak or simply refuses to leave, after a few hours the parents will abandon it.
Once the fledglings take wing, they don't return to the box. However, for the next three to four weeks they are fed by their parents.
I would like say that all bluebird nesting attempts are successful. In truth, they aren't. Females, their eggs and the young are all vulnerable to a wide range of hazards. Birds such as house wrens will peck bluebird eggs. Predators such as rat snakes, cats and raccoons are always a threat. If that isn't enough, parasites such as blow flies can kill hatchlings.
Consequently, although the sight of a bluebird box standing at the edge of your yard may seem serene, you now know that the bluebirds using it are engaged in the deadly serious business of trying to raise their young.
With that in mind, who needs to watch a contrived reality show or drama on television when a true life drama is being played out just outside your backdoor?
Terry Johnson is a former Nongame program manager with the Wildlife Resources Division, a backyard wildlife expert, and executive director of TERN, the friends group of the Nongame Conservation Section. (Permission is required to reprint this column. Contact email@example.com.)


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Posted: 27 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Family Tree Maker 2011 is almost here. Join us for a free webinar on September 15th at 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time and discover why it's the best version yet. You'll learn how to:
And if you have questions you'd like answered, please enter them in the Comments section below. We'll try to respond to them during the webinar or on the blog. (Please limit your questions to functionality available in Family Tree Maker 2011.) We appreciate your questions and look forward to talking to you soon. Thanks! Have you missed past webinars? You can view them any time at FamilyTreeMaker.com. |
Copyright © 2010 by H R Worthington


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Free Texas DMV Motorcycle Practice Test 2 2024 | TX
What to expect on the actual TX DMV exam
- 20questions
- 16correct answers to pass
- 80%passing score
- 15Minimum age to apply
Everything's bigger in Texas, except the hassle of preparing for your TX motorcycle permit exam! With this Texas motorcycle permit practice test, you'll be on the road in no time. The format of this 50 question practice test is designed to closely resemble the official exam you must pass in order to obtain your license or endorsement. Each practice question measures your knowledge of the official Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual. If you have trouble selecting an answer, view the optional hint that is included for each practice question. Also, review each question's simple explanation to make sure you remember the correct information. This TX motorcycle permit practice test is a quick and easy way to prepare to ace the official exam and get on the road sooner!


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Phone: 919-306-2080Alt 1: 919-489-9118, ext. 4318Alt 2: 919-929-1994
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Term Elected / Appointed:November 2, 2021
Term Expires:December 2025
I believe the goal of an elected representative in her political work is to improve the quality of living for people. I serve to ensure and improve the quality of life in Carrboro, to give back to the people and community I love.
Carrboro is my verve-town. Dream it and do it!
Council Member Randee Haven-O'Donnell was born in New York City. She and Gerry O'Donnell moved to Carrboro, NC in 1978. They have an adult son, Aran. Randee is a graduate of Stony Brook University and holds a master's degree from Bank Street College of Education. Randee taught in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
In 1990, she was awarded Orange County and North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Teacher of the Year. Randee is a diversity trainer and curriculum writer. She is a science educator at Durham Academy and the Academic Director of Duke Action Science Camp for Young Women. Randee is a Leadership Triangle alumna in addition to having served as Board Secretary.
After serving on the Carrboro Planning Board and other municipal Advisory Boards, Randee was elected and began serving on the Board of Alderman in 2005. Randee is a board liaison to the Town of Carrboro's Economic Sustainability Commission, Environmental Advisory Board, Greenway Commission, Day Laborers Task Force, Energy and Sustainability Taskforce, Farmers Market Community Advisory Committee. Randee has also represented Carrboro on Orange County boards; Library Task Force, Economic Development Commission, Climate Change Commission, the Human Relations Commission and will serve on the up coming Solid Waste Advisory Group.


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Paraguay's vice president, Federico Franco, recently presented an award to Giulianna Pozzoli, the recent winner of the Nickelodeon-OLPC Scratch animation contest, and other student leaders. This was held Caacupé, home to the country's first large deployment of children's laptops.
At 0:39 you can see one of the children in the audience filming his speech on her XO; another is typing as he talks. Others have hand cameras. He talks briefly about how everyone needs to work together to help improve children's education, for a better future – and this an essential part of it.


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Philadelphia, PA – Simon Gagne and Maxime Talbot scored early goals that helped propel the Philadelphia Flyers to a much-needed 3-2 decision over the Buffalo Sabres at Wells Fargo Center.
Claude Giroux added the eventual game-winner 17 seconds into the second period, while Kimmo Timonen recorded two assists in Philadelphia's first victory after three consecutive defeats.
Ilya Bryzgalov aided the cause as well, contributing an assist on Gagne's goal in addition to making 18 saves between the pipes.
"That's a step forward," said Giroux of the win. "We needed those two points tonight and we obviously have a big test in front of us [Wednesday at New Jersey], so we need to make sure we're pretty sharp going forward."
Brian Flynn and Jochen Hecht each lit the lamp for the skidding Sabres, now losers of four in a row (0-2-2). Ryan Miller finished with 25 saves in defeat.
The Flyers never trailed after Timonen hit Gagne with a long pass and the veteran forward converted a power-play breakaway 4:31 after the opening whistle, in part due to a defensive breakdown by Buffalo on its initial opportunity with a man advantage.
Steve Ott lost the puck to Philadelphia's Ruslan Fedotenko, who raced up the right side on a 2-on-1 situation with Talbot before feeding his teammate for a shorthanded tally that put the Flyers up 2-0 less than nine minutes in.
"We obviously started off on the wrong foot," said Sabres head coach Ron Rolston. "That's more my responsibility, I've got to do a better job there. We've got to be ready to go, we didn't have enough urgency or desperation off the start."
The Sabres were able to cut the lead in half just under three minutes later, with Flynn banging home a rebound of Kevin Porter's long drive for the rookie's second career NHL marker, but an interference penalty called on Ott near the end of the period eventually put Buffalo back in a two-goal hole.
Philadelphia quickly capitalized on the infraction, with Giroux beating Miller to the stick side not long after the second period commenced.
Buffalo got back within one with a shorthanded conversion of its own 4:32 into the third frame, with Ott knocking the puck from Giroux and creating an odd- man rush with Hecht that the latter scored on.
The Sabres put up five shots over the remainder of the contest, but Bryzgalov was able to preserve the lead.
Game Notes
The Flyers improved to 9-4-0 this season when scoring the first goal ... Talbot's shorthanded goal was the 15th of his career, while Hecht netted his 10th tally in such situations ... Giroux has a goal in all three meetings between the clubs this season, with Timonen amassing five assists over the course of those games ... Philadelphia finished 2-of-6 on the power play.


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Media Contact: Kathy Goldner, [email protected], 207.548.2529 x216
Searsport, Maine, November 18, 2013 – Penobscot Marine Museum's winter exhibit Underfoot: Footwear, Hooked Rugs, In the Cellar and Below Decks opens on Friday, December 6th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a holiday party including Christmas gingerbread houses, a book signing with five Maine authors, and the town of Searsport's Holiday Tree Lighting. The Tree Lighting will take place at 4:00 pm on the museum's crescent and the party is in Penobscot Marine Museum's Main Street Gallery and Shop on Route One in Searsport.
Five Maine writers of mystery, adventure, and children's books: Kelly Brooks-Bay, Darcy Scott, John Cobb, Bob Branco and Angela Nickerson, will all be on hand to discuss and sign their books during this holiday party. Christmas gingerbread houses made by local children and adults, including chefs at Anglers and other local restaurants, will be on display. Come and vote for your favorite confection. "People's Choice" awards will be given to the best gingerbread house made by a child and by an adult.
The museum's winter exhibit Underfoot: Footwear, Hooked Rugs, In the Cellar and Below Decks explores what is on your feet and what is under your feet. Antique shoes from around the world, Maine hooked rugs, and a re-created nineteenth century ship's cabin will all be a part of Penobscot Marine Museum's exhibit. The museum will even open up its own cellar to show the world of food storage before refrigeration. Check www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org for winter talks and workshops.
To enter your gingerbread house, or for more information on the museum's Gingerbread Christmas, call Lin Calista at 207-548-0334.
Underfoot: Footwear, Hooked Rugs, In the Cellar and Below Decks runs through Saturday, February 22. Museum Gallery, Shop and Framer hours are 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday. Museum Gallery, Shop and Framer, 40 East Main Street, Searsport, Maine. For more information call 207-548-0334 or 207-548-2529.


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Polyethylene Glycols (PEG)
Reagents for Pegylation
PEGs possess a variety of properties pertinent to biomedical and biotechnical applications.
A summary of some properties of interest is given here:
- Soluble in water, toluene, methylene chloride, many organic solvents.
- Insoluble in ethyl ether, hexane, ethylene glycol.
- Insoluble in water at elevated temperature.
- Solubility and partitioning controlled by making derivatives.
- Forms complexes with metal cations.
- Highly mobile; large exclusion volume in water.
- Can be used to precipitate proteins and nucleic acids.
- Forms two-phase systems with aqueous solutions of other polymers.
- Nontoxic; FDA approved for internal consumption.
- Hospitable to biological materials.
- Causes cell fusion (in high concentration).
- Weakly immunogenic.
Covalently linked PEG will:
- Solubilize other molecules.
- Render proteins non immunogenic and toleragenic
- Reduce rate of clearance through kidney.
- Render surfaces protein-rejecting
- Alter electro osmotic flow.
- Move molecules across cell membranes.
- Alter pharmacokinetics.


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NBC Legal Analyst Heralds 'Sweeping Historic Decision for Gay Rights'; Praises 'Pro-Civil Rights Bloc' of Liberal Justices
During live coverage of the Supreme Court's gay marriage rulings on
Wednesday, NBC legal analyst Lisa Bloom could barely contain her
enthusiasm at the decisions overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and
Proposition 8: "There is no question that this is a sweeping historic decision for gay rights....I
think this is only the beginning, by the way. This is the decision
today, but this is going to engender many more cases to come to further
protect gay rights." [Listen to the audio]
Bloom went on to praise the liberal justices making up the majority opinion: "...all three women on the Court voted with the majority, they tend to be the pro-civil rights bloc." She further declared the cases to be "some of the biggest civil rights issues of our time."
Near the end of the coverage, Today co-host Savannah Guthrie
worried that gay rights activists in California may suffer
"disappointment, because in that Prop 8 case the Court did have the
opportunity to issue a sweeping ruling that would have affected gay
couples across the country. It didn't do that."
Bloom reassured her: "Well, that's right. I would call this day a home
run for gay rights. It's not a grand slam, they could have done more,
but they certainly could have done a lot less. And this is a court that
has done less on other civil rights cases this term."
Here are excerpts of Bloom's June 26 analysis of the decisions:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And let me turn to Lisa Bloom, our legal analyst. And I think what is surprising here is the breadth of the decision, five votes to say that this law, the Defense of Marriage Act, violates equal protection. And the question is, what will that mean then for the next case, which is a direct invitation to the Court to essentially say that any ban on same-sex marriage would be unconstitutional.
LISA BLOOM: There is no question that this is a sweeping historic decision for gay rights. And let's keep in mind, it was only ten years ago that the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas struck down state laws that criminalized private consensual gay sex. And so in ten years we've gone from that to saying that the federal government must extend benefits to same-sex partners, the same as they would to heterosexual partners.
GUTHRIE: Meantime we want to turn to Lisa Bloom again, our NBC News legal analyst. And one of the hold ups in the Court is that Justice Scalia is reading a rather lengthy dissent from the bench. Number one, that's something justices do when they feel particularly impassioned about a case.
BLOOM: They've been doing that all week.
GUTHRIE: And let me read you a quote of what he said. He says, "This court's opinion today," talking about the one striking down DOME, "spring from the same diseased root and exalted notion of the role of this court in American democratic society." In other words, Justice Scalia is saying the Court shouldn't have been involved here, should have left this issue to the democratic processes.
LISA BLOOM: Well, of course the courts have been deciding equal protection cases for over a century. And the advocates of gay marriage would say this is in keeping with that. That equal protection has struck down laws that discriminated based on race, based on gender, and now based on sexual orientation.
GUTHRIE: Well, obviously this an issue that came up. We think of another big sweeping ruling in the Court's history, Roe vs Wade, that is one that, of course, took the issue of abortion out of the political process, out of democratic process. And even a Justice like Ruth Bader Ginsberg has later said, maybe the Court shouldn't have stepped in that way. And it seems that Justice Scalia's dissent talks about that kind of concept.
BLOOM: Well, that's Justice Scalia's and the dissents' argument, but the idea behind the equal protection clause is to protect disenfranchised minorities, like gays and lesbians, from the will of the majority. And is it appropriate for the majority of people in California or elsewhere to vote away the rights, the civil rights, of a small protected class? I mean, that's the issue. And apparently five of the majority have said no, the equal protection laws squarely apply to gays and lesbians.
I think this is only the beginning, by the way. This is the decision today, but this is going to engender many more cases to come to further protect gay rights.
GUTHRIE: We turn to Lisa Bloom. It's interesting to see who wrote this decision. Justice Kennedy so often the swing vote, and when you look at the Court's issues, the Court's cases where they've actually touched on issues connected to same-sex relationships, Kennedy authored the two cases that are relevant.
BLOOM: Right. We knew he would be the swing vote, and he was the swing vote. I would also point out that all three women on the Court voted with the majority, they tend to be the pro-civil rights bloc. I also think it's interesting, we were talking about the political and the legal working together, you know, the reason why there is no standing in the Prop 8 case, if indeed that's what the Court rules, is because the state of California refused to defend it in court, just as the federal government refused to defend DOMA. So these laws were passed, a little bit of time goes by, and then the government says, "You know what? We're not going to defend this anymore," and that has a significant bearing on the outcome of the legal cases.
LAUER: Look at the even, even bigger picture and just look at the week that we're having here at the Supreme Court. When you think about the decisions that have come down, some have said it's perhaps the most historic week in the Court's recent history, with Affirmative Action, the Voting Rights Act, Proposition 8 still to come, DOMA. Put it in perspective.
BLOOM: Right, they have had to grapple with some of the biggest civil rights issues of our time. And the Court has done what they're supposed to do. They're supposed to look very, very carefully at the law and sometimes make really meticulous decisions that are hard for us to understand. We would like broad pronouncements, apparently we have that in the DOMA case. In the Prop 8 case, probably less so, it will be decided on technical grounds. What that will mean though is that gay-
LAUER: Similar to the Voting Rights Act, in one area.
BLOOM: That's right, like the Voting Rights Act, and even the Affirmative Action decision earlier this week.
GUTHRIE: But at the same time, do you think you could pull these three cases we saw this week together and put them in an ideological box? I don't know that you could.
BLOOM: I think it's different, I think they're certainly treating gay rights differently than racial – the rights of racial minorities. I mean that's a difference. I think what the Court was saying yesterday in the voting rights case, is that 1965 is not 2013, we've got to keep up with the times. Well, boy, if you want to talk about keeping up with the times, how about ruling in favor of gay marriage? I mean that's something that's a very, very modern issue. And public opinions have changed so much in the last ten years on that. And the Supreme Court, you know, they're human beings too, I'm sure they're opinions have changed as well.
GUTHRIE: There's a huge practical impact to the decision we already have, striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, because now of course the federal government will be required to recognize same-sex marriages in those states that allow it, which will mean they have to confer those federal benefits, for example.
BLOOM: You know, this is good work for civil rights lawyers and for family lawyers because there's a lot of unanswered questions still remaining, like gay divorce and recognizing other state's gay marriages.
And as we turn to Lisa, that may be the lack of reaction, a function of not quite understanding what the Court did here, or maybe it is disappointment, because in that Prop 8 case the Court did have the opportunity to issue a sweeping ruling that would have affected gay couples across the country. It didn't do that.
BLOOM: Well, that's right. I would call this day a home run for gay rights. It's not a grand slam, they could have done more, but they certainly could have done a lot less. And this is a court that has done less on other civil rights cases this term. And let's also be clear that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, that's the case that was decided, the gay marriage case that then went up to the Supreme Court, they decided it on very narrow grounds, hoping that it would be upheld by the Supreme Court in just this way. So there's a certain amount of legal gamesmanship that's gone on from the beginning.
GUTHRIE: Alright, Lisa Bloom, thank you for being with us as we watched these cases this morning.


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- Home
- Government
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- Tax Collection Information
- How to Get More Information
Property Tax Records
Most property tax records are open to public inspection. The appraisal district's information and assistance center has computer terminals available for public use and can also provide appraisal and exemption related information in hard copy form. Your taxing units can answer questions about tax rates and tax bills.
Additional Information
Additional information regarding functions handled by the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is available at the HCAD website. You may also visit the appraisal district's offices to obtain pamphlets on these same subjects or to visit with trained customer service staff. The appraisal district can answer your questions about property values, exemptions, agricultural or timber appraisal, and protests to the appraisal review board. You may contact HCAD at 713-957-7800.


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Bayh-Dole allows academic grantees to patent federally-funded research for purposes of promoting the commercialization of this research. To ensure commercialization goals are achieved, the Act requires grantees to report to funding agencies not only the existence of federally-funded patents but also utilization efforts they and their licensees/assignees are making.
Although reporting is a cornerstone of accountability under Bayh-Dole, information about grantee compliance with reporting requirements is incomplete and dated. In fact, the last significant study of the question dates back to the late 1990s and analyzes only 633 patents. Since that time, concerns have emerged that federally-funded university patents are being asserted improperly against independent commercializers or even assigned to so-called "patent trolls."
This article provides fresh evidence indicating substantial under-reporting of the existence of federal funding in over 30,000 academic biomedical patents issued between 1980 to 2007. The article finds substantial under-reporting of federal funding even in the case of patents on FDA-approved drugs, which should presumably receive significant attention from universities.
Grantees' failure to report federal funding suggests similar, or even more significant, noncompliance with requirements to report utilization information. However, compliance with reporting requirements on utilization cannot be assessed because of secrecy associated with relevant government databases. Accordingly, the article makes a fresh argument that the Commerce Department, which has the requisite regulatory authority, work with funding agencies, to improve transparency. Greater transparency would not only motivate grantees to improve reporting but would also allow assessment of whether grantee patent management is actually achieving Bayh-Dole's utilization goals.
Arti K. Rai & Bhaven N. Sampat, Accountability in patenting of federally funded research, 30 Nature Biotechnology 953-956 (2012)
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Patents, Grants-in-aid, Research, Bayh-Dole Act, Responsibility, United States
Available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/faculty_scholarship/2771


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Soapstone KinderCare
Meet Danielle Gaskins, Our Center Director
At KinderCare Since: 2022
Education: Degree in Early Childhood Education
Favorite Children's Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Meet Danielle Gaskins! She is the Center Director at Soapstone KinderCare in Reston, Virginia. Danielle attended North Virginia Community College, where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. Before joining KinderCare, she was an assistant director. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite quote is, "Change the world one child at a time."
Soapstone KinderCare Programs
Infant Programs (6 weeks–1 year)
Leaving your baby in someone else's care is a big step. Everyone at our centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant classroom, you'll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world.
Toddler Programs (1–2 Years)
Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That's because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the place, that means they're learning and discovering new things every day. We'll help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.
Discovery Preschool Programs (2–3 Years)
This age is filled with so much wonder and curiosity. That's why we offer a ton of books and toys and bring artwork down to kids eye level. Children in discovery preschool also begin to learn how we all work together in a classroom. Simple math and science, pretend play, and group play help them get used to a more structured school setting.
Preschool Programs (3–4 Years)
This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step: kindergarten!
Prekindergarten Programs (4–5 Years)
When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you'll see artwork and writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect letters with words. You'll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families in our community. Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language, math, science, Spanish, and social skills.
Before- and After-School Programs (5–12 Years)
You can count on us to provide reliable care for your school-ager while you're at work, with safe transportation from our center to your child's school and back! Whether your child wants to start a drama club, build a volcano, or create a comic book, they will have a place to follow their dreams. Your child will start and end the day with a whole lot of fun!
School Break Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)
Winter break, spring break, summer break—when school's out (but you still need to work), you can count on KinderCare to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that's focused on fun. We welcome children ages 5–12 during school break times and make sure they have a sensational, screen-free experience they won't forget.
Learning Adventures - Enrichment Program
Cooking Academy™ (3 – 12 Years)
In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and develop a healthy relationship with food. They'll whip up everything from Southwest rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication, and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!
Music Explorers™ (2 – 4 Years)
KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math, science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare way of learning the foundations of music.
Phonics Adventures® (2 – 4 Years)
Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program. From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group. (Bonus: Kids who attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we have the data to prove it.)
STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)
You've probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids' natural ability to make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and more. While your child experiments, they'll discover how to use technology to do amazing things!
Family Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
What accreditations does KinderCare have?
Do you offer part-time schedules at Soapstone KinderCare?
How does naptime work at Soapstone KinderCare?
Do you support alternative diets?
Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
About KinderCare
We're so proud!
What Learning Looks Like
Our Teachers
We're the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn't enough though. KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply, we love our teachers and your child will, too.
Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!
A KinderCare Teacher With An Artist's Heart
"My classroom is full of art!" says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.
An Educator Dedicated to Making Readers
Soft-spoken, creative, and laser-focused on literacy, Alisha Jackson is a real role model for early childhood educators. "I am being the change I wish to see in the lives of children," she says. Watch and find out how she helps children find a love of books and reading.
This Top Educator Teaches With Her Whole Heart
Music is learning. It lights up everything" says this award-winning early childhood educator. Attiya Mirza is particularly adept at using music to teach: She recorded a pop album in her native Pakistan and was also the captain of the Pakistani national cricket team (leadership skills are extremely helpful in a class full of three-year-olds)!
Gallup - Great Workplace Award
We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We're so proud to have been named one of Gallup's 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award. When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience an amazing place to learn and grow.
Who Are KinderCare Families?
They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life. What our families have in common, though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.
Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.
A Globe-Trotting Family Finds a Home in Houston
Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.
This Inspirational Family Puts Love First
Music to our ears. Meet the Bachmans, an all-American, multi-racial family from Chicago who show us all what love is really about.
A Family That is Busy with a Capital "B"
When both parents are professionals, carving out some family "together" time can be a serious challenge. See how the Dorazios do it—from Taco Tuesday to trips to the shore.


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Item Watch is a built-in tool that allows you to track any auction in our system. You can add an item to your watch list when logged in, by simply clicking "add to watch list" when viewing the item. When an item on your watch list receives a new bid, you will be instantly alerted by email. You can manage your watch list by clicking on "Item Watch" in the top navigation when logged in.
One of the main advantages of Item Watch - besides curating your very own auction search engine - is to get an email notification when an item on your list receives a bid from someone else.
This can become tiresome for people who curate hundreds or even thousands (there is no limit!) of items on their watch lists as they tend to receive a large number of emails from us. We do have an email send limit in place, where you won't receive more than one Item Watch Alert email for a single item in a 10 minute period, but we wanted to go one better and allow you to opt out of Item Watch emails completely.
To do this, go to your Account Settings page, and un-tick the item watch emails box under the Email Notifications heading. Item Watch notification emails are turned on by default for all accounts.
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